How can Di Maria come back into the team? Drop Mata (who I thought was ineffective and wasted on the right wing)? How can Rojo and Shaw come back into the team when Jones (back pass aside) and Blind had good games. Blind in particular was excellent, getting down the wing and whipping in meaningful crosses which Shaw is yet to do. Maybe drop Smalling for Rojo? Smalling is a blocker and will stick his head and body in the way of pretty much anything but his passing is woeful. But then Rojo always looks like an accident waiting to happen. Given the cauldron of hate and phlegm they are going to be facing at Anfield next week, he'd be better off going with the two English centre halves who have experienced it before and Blind who has more big match experience than Shaw.
Disagree, I think Mata has to play. Not his best position but his movement on the right, pulling the FB and wingers created space for the others. Whatever else, he is a great passer and creator. Imo Herrera, Mata and Carrick are an absolute must. Dont want Rojo or Shaw back just yet. Blind at LB is fine.
I think Schteeve was referring to the fact that Mata is often described as wasted and ineffectual if played anywhere other than No.10, usually by Londonsonly. I hope he was anyway as he was far from either of those things yesterday and had a great game, Di Maria will have to bide his time and wait to be brought back and will in the meantime be a useful sub. Centre half partnership should stay the same. Is Shaw a possibility at right back? Not next game necessarily but as he is an actual defender and not a right winger he could be given a go ahead of Valencia, Bind looked good at left back so he won't get back there in a hurry, or shouldn't. It doesn't seem to bother LVG playing Di Maria on the right so it shouldn't Shaw.
I wouldn't say ineffectual, but by playing him as a winger, you are certainly being wasteful, you are wasting the chance to have one of the best No.10's play in your team. He was awesome for us as a No.10, certainly better than any other No.10 you have at your club. Similar with Rooney, can he play as a No.10 AND be effective, I guess. But why deprive yourself of the best No.9 in your squad by sticking him some where else, especially when you already have a great No.10. By benching Mata and dropping Rooney back you are losing a great striker and swapping him with either Failcao or Crock Van Crockerson. This was okay before you had Mata and Van Persie was on fire, but now Rooney is the best striker in your team, so you should play him as one. And you have a kick ass No 10 already in Mata, and so should play him too.
Tbh this isnt about Mata on his own (although he is our best nmbr 10). This is about the midfield as a whole - you could play Mata anywhere behind the striker as long as he has Carrick and Herrera in CM you see 3 intelligent footballers who can interchange, pass and move and knit play forward.
Mata is a goalscoring number 10 more than a creative one. Not that he isnt creative. He will excel anywhere behind a striker. Reckon he would make a decent second striker too. Worked a little harder defensively at the weekend too which helped the whole midfield.
But of course. All he needed was five defenders and two DMs in front of him and to play in a team that relies on being dominated for most of the game and snatching a deflected goal on the counter attack. Maybe Rodgers is the new Benitez after all?
Would you like to point out where I've referred to him as 'world class' at any stage on this forum? Well?
When he first signed last season and made a couple of decent saves he was described as world class. Not necessarily by yourself but he definitely was. Just like Moreno, Manquillo and Can were after their first games also. This before they descended into standard mediocrity of course.
All have been bloody wrong on this thread except... Chief and Custard.... Those ****ers got it spot on The RS are like the pundits. They know less that those thieving City brokers who predict share rises. They get things more wrong than tossing a coin. If United beat city next weekend, then I'll believe that we will finish in top 4.
"I think Can might just have the potential to be world-class. Certainly not Mig." Can - world class #worldclassmuppet
Next 3 games.. City at home Chelsea away Everton away Would be delighted with 7 points from that lot. Happy with 5. Beating City would be sweet, been too fcking long and they look vulnerable.
